Applicator for elastic rings



Jan. 20, 1942. J. E. HALL APPLICATOR 'FOR ELASTIC RINGS Filed July 5, 1938 I lnlnfivllalfnnn...

, f, i 1. v//l/z Z f ATTORN I' INVENTCR Jesse Patented Jan. zo, 19542 APPLICATOB FOR ELASTIC RINGS y e Jesse E. Hail, BakersiieliL, Calif., assigner to Gustin-Baeon Manufacturing Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation oi' Missouri Application .my 5, 193s. serai 10,217,340

4 claims. l(cica-sac) i. drill pipe proper and frequentlyV are of `consid- My invention relates to an applicator for elastic rings, and more particularly to a means and method for.applylngelastic angular bands to pipes, tubes, rods, shafts 'and the like. In the rotary method .of -drilling oil wells. the

drilling string comprises a plurality of sections madeup of lengths of drill `pipe connected by couplings and tool joints. As the holeprogresses in depth, casings are set and drilling proceeds through a casing which has been cemented in place. When the drilling string is rotated the tool joints will engage the well casing with the result that the couplings and joints in the string become wor'n and the well casing frequently daniaged even to the extent of being punctured. After a casing has been set and cemented, damage to the casing may result in the loss of a well.

In order to protect the casing and the couplings of a string of drill pipe, protector rings of rubber have been placed upon the drill pipe in erable length. Y

One means and method of applying protector rings to drill pipeis shown-in the patent to William J. Bettis',' numbered 1,965,876, and bearing date July 10, 1934. With the advent of deeper drilling, necessitating the use of longer drilling strings, it has become necessary to employ larger suiiicient to force the protector ring over the tool joint. Resort has been had to the jarring of the proximity to the tool joints. These protector rings are of larger external diameter than the tool joints and prevent metal to metal contact of the tool joint and the casing wall from takboth the casing and the tool joints.

There are two general types of protectors in use-namely, the split type, which is iormed of sections adapted to be secured in place by various securing means, and the elastic'type. The

split type has proven unsatisfactory due to the fact that it is impossible to secure them tothe drill pipe sumciently tightly to prevent them from becoming dislodged. This is especially true when drilling deep wells. In such case the weight' string to be without protection.

' 'Ihe elastic type has proven to be more satisfactory in that it may be placed upon the drill Ypipe under heavy tension tightly gripping the pipe and remaining in place. 'Ihe diillcultyhas been in placing a heavy annular elastic band or l protector ringupon drill pipes, due -to the fact that it must be expanded over the tool joints,

, ing place, thus preventing wear and protecting f ydrill pipe in order to force the protector ring over thel tool joint. This jarring has been accomplished by dropping the traveling block, the hook and the elevator of the drillingrig upon the top of the section ofdrill pipe, over the lower end of which the protector ring is being placed. Wlth'very heavy protector rings this jarring is not suillcient' to accomplish the result, and in any event this practice damages the upper tool joint.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved applicator for elastic rings.

` A further object of my invention is to. provide a novel method of4 applying protector rings.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing which forms part of the instant specification, and whichV are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts inthe various views:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of an applicator capable of vcarrying out the4 method of my in vention and showing one embodiment of my invention.

. 4 4, Fig. 1.

which are always larger in diameter than the Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation similar to that shown in Fig. l, showing a light protectorv ring -being pushed over the tool joint by the lowering of a drill pipe'. I

Fig. 3 'shows the position of parts with a hea or long protector ring in position upon the drill pipe. n

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 5, Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, an elastic protector ring I is positioned upon an expandible support comprising a plurality of members 2 secured to and supported by vertical members 3, which are light-springs having their lower ends secured to a base member 4. A mandrel 5 is provided with a projection 6 adapted tovflt within the bore of the drill pipe 1. The mandrel I is tapered and its upper periphery l is equal to the diameter of the toolsioint 9. If the spring supporting members I be too`stiif, the .members 2 will score or scratch the surface of the mandrel 5.

As the rubber ring is pushed along the mandrel 5 and is stretched, its tendency to contract sometimes causes the members 2 to be forced out from between thelower edge of the protector ring and the mandrel. In order to resist this tendencyit is necessary, during the latter portion of the movement of the rubber. ring over the mandrel and tool joint, to provide means for holding the members 2 against the mandrel more strongly than was necessary when the rubber ring was not stretched to its greatest extent. Accordingly, I position spring members III secured at their lower ends to the base member l. These spring members III are adjacent the supporting spring members 3 and normally out of contact therewith. 'I'he arrangement is such that when the rubber ring is expanded to a predetermined diameter, the spring members I will contact the members 3 and reinforce them by providing additional spring power to hold the members 2 against the mandrel. as can readily be seen by reference -to Fig. 2.

During the passage of the rubber ring over the tool joint, as shown in Fig. 2, the tendency for the members 2 to slip outwardly under the forces present is increased. Should the members 2 Jump outwardly it is frequently very dimcult, if not impossible, to move the rubber ring from suitable construction, is pivoted around pivot pin Il. The free end of the trap door I1-is sup- .ported upon a stop member 20, carried on the lower end of a bell crank lever 2| which is piv- 5 oted at 22. When the arm 22 of the bell crank lo into the position shown in Fig. 3. Thispermits the base member, the drill pipe (it is understood that sumcient slack has been provided in the hoisting equipment) and the upper portion of .15 tom of the cylinder I6 I position a shock absorber which may take the form of a rubber block 2l. When -the base member strikes the bottom of the cylinder it will be suddenly arrested. This will permit the inertia of the drill pipe to cause it to ride through the rubber protector ring while supported upon the members 2, thus positioning the'protector ring at a desired point above the tool Joint, .as can be readily seen by reference to Fig. 3.

It is believed that those skilled in the art will understand the operation of my method and ,the use of my tool from the foregoing description.

It will be observed that I have accomplished the objects -of my invention. I have provided the position it happens to (www- In order to is not necessary to uncouple the upper end of preclude this contingency I provide a limiter ring II carried by a pair of arms I2, the lower ends of which are secured to the base member l.

The limiter ring II is held in a position surthe drill pipe from the hoisting equipment. The momentum acquired by the falling drill pipe is suiiicient to force the drill pipe through the protector ring while it is supported upon the exrounding the members 2 by the arm I2, which 4 minding members 2- The limiter ring I' Pre' can readily be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2. In this manner the danger of members 2 jumping outwardly from underneath the protector ring I being applied is obviated. The diameter of the limiter ring II ls such that the members 2 are constrained to a position somewhat greater than the diameter of the tool joint and less than the diameter of the protector ring in its stretched position.

vents the members 2 from leaving a proper position enabling the application of the protector ring.

It will be understood that certain features and *'45 subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in The mandrel l and its extension 6 are pro- 50 details wihin the scope of my claims without vided with an axial bore I2 adapted to ride upon a guide rod I4 secured to the base member I. The provision of'an elongated guide surface prevents any tendency of the mandrel to cant.

departing from the spirit of my invention. It is,.therefore, to be understood that my invention is not tombe limited to the specific" detailsshown and described.

With short protector rings, the friction is not Having thus 4described my invention, what I great and the weight of the drill pipe in such cases is sumcient to cause it to move on through the protector ring supported on 4the members 2 which will expand as the protector ring expands.

After the drill pipe passes through the protector ring I, it will fall to the base member upon which is positioned a rubber block I5 adapted to take the shock of the fall. When heavy protector rings which are of increased length are to be placed on the drill pipe, the friction is such that the drill pipe will not move relative to the protector ring.. In order to achieve the relative motion necessary to move the drill pipe through the protector ring in these cases. it will ,be noted that I mount the base member I within theupf' per part of a cylinder II resting upon -a pivoted supporting member or trap door I1. .The cyiinder I8 is provided with a plurality of legs I8 .to form a steady support whichwill not be easily claim is:v

Y 1. A ring applicator including a base member, a plurality of relatively movable members located in a substantially circular path, means for supporting said movable members from said base member, said movable members being adapted tosupport a ring to be expanded, an expander for expanding a ring so supported and adapted to be located within said circle of movable memo'5 bers, a hollow frame having a bottom, adapted to .capsized I'he trap door I1, which may be of' any Z5 said-base and movable members by contact with said bottom, cause said expander to pass through and expand said ring.

2. A ring applicator including a base member, a plurality of relatively movable members located in a substantially circular path, means for supporting said movable members from said base member, said movable members being adapted to support a ring to be expanded, an expander for expanding a ring so supported and adapted to be located Within said circle of movable members, a hollow frame having a bottom, adapted to receive said members and expander for reciprocating movement within the same, releasable means for supporting said base member a predetermined distance above the bottom of said frame, means for releasing said supporting means to permit said base member, ring supporting movable members and expander to fall to the bottom of said frame, whereby the kinetic energy developed during the fall may, upon stopping of said base and movable members by contact with said bottom, cause said expander to pass through and expand said ring, said base member being formed with shock absorbing means.

3. A ring applicator including a base member, a plurality of relatively movable members located in a substantially circular path, means for supporting said movable members from said base member, said movable members being adapted to support a ring to be expanded, an expander for expanding a ring so supported and adapted to be located within said circle of movable members, a hollow frame having a bottom, adapted to receive said members and expander for reciprocating movement within the same, releasable means for supporting said base member a predetermined distance above the bottom of said frame, means for releasing said supporting means to permit said base member, ring supporting movable members and expander to fall to the bottom of said frame whereby the kinetic energy developed during the fall may, upon stopping of said base and movable members by contact with said bottom, cause said expander to pass through and expand said ring, said frame having shock absorbing means adjacent its bottom adapted to be connected by said base member to arrest the fall of said base member.

4. A ring applicator including a base member, a plurality of relatively movable members located in a substantially circular path, means for supporting said movable members from said base member, said movable members being adapted to support a ring to be expanded, an expander for expanding a ring so supported and adapted to be located within said circle of movable members, a hollow frame having a bottom, adapted to receive said members and expander for reciprocating movement Within theV same, a hinged member for supporting said base member a predetermined distance above the bottom thereof, a latch for preventing said hinged member from pivoting, means forreleasing said latch to permit said base member, ring supporting movable members and expander to fall to the bottom of said frame whereby the kinetic energy developed during the fall may, upon stopping of said base and movable members by contact with said bottom, cause said expander to pass through and expand said ring.

JESSE E. HALL. 

